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Child abuse worker vs protective service specialist

The differences between child abuse workers and protective service specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a child abuse worker and a protective service specialist. Additionally, a protective service specialist has an average salary of $50,293, which is higher than the $45,627 average annual salary of a child abuse worker.

The top three skills for a child abuse worker include social services, law enforcement and emergency situations. The most important skills for a protective service specialist are social work, child safety, and foster care.

Child abuse worker vs protective service specialist overview

Child Abuse WorkerProtective Service Specialist
Yearly salary$45,627$50,293
Hourly rate$21.94$24.18
Growth rate9%9%
Number of jobs33,52781,211
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 71%Bachelor's Degree, 70%
Average age4242
Years of experience44

Child abuse worker vs protective service specialist salary

Child abuse workers and protective service specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Child Abuse WorkerProtective Service Specialist
Average salary$45,627$50,293
Salary rangeBetween $38,000 And $54,000Between $32,000 And $76,000
Highest paying City-Baltimore, MD
Highest paying state-New Jersey
Best paying company-Parsons
Best paying industry-Government

Differences between child abuse worker and protective service specialist education

There are a few differences between a child abuse worker and a protective service specialist in terms of educational background:

Child Abuse WorkerProtective Service Specialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 71%Bachelor's Degree, 70%
Most common majorPsychologySocial Work
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaSUNY at Albany

Child abuse worker vs protective service specialist demographics

Here are the differences between child abuse workers' and protective service specialists' demographics:

Child Abuse WorkerProtective Service Specialist
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 29.8% Female, 70.2%Male, 34.5% Female, 65.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 13.4% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 2.7% White, 63.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5%Black or African American, 13.4% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 2.7% White, 63.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5%
LGBT Percentage10%10%

Differences between child abuse worker and protective service specialist duties and responsibilities

Child abuse worker example responsibilities.

  • Lead presentation and training sessions to community and inter-agency groups.
  • Coordinate admissions of active duty service members and veterans to the inpatient rehabilitation/medical unit after suffering a new spinal cord injury.
  • Perform related adoptions and supervisory visits for state adoptions.

Protective service specialist example responsibilities.

  • Manage a caseload TANF clients, assess clients eligibility to receive benefits, assist with placement of clients in various programs.
  • Review applicant documentation to determine eligibility for state and federal aid programs, including Medicaid, food stamps and emergency assistance.
  • Perform related adoptions and supervisory visits for state adoptions.

Child abuse worker vs protective service specialist skills

Common child abuse worker skills
  • Social Services, 35%
  • Law Enforcement, 32%
  • Emergency Situations, 9%
  • Crisis Intervention, 8%
  • Child Sexual Abuse, 6%
  • Mental Health, 6%
Common protective service specialist skills
  • Social Work, 16%
  • Child Safety, 7%
  • Foster Care, 6%
  • Social Services, 6%
  • APS, 5%
  • Community Resources, 4%

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